Hamilton’s Transformation: You Can’t Have a Hero, If You Don’t Have a Villain

When I first heard of Hamilton Company in Reno, it was just a name to me, a medical device manufacturer a couple of hours away, with no real reason to catch my attention. That changed during a lunch at IMTS, right before the world shifted with the onset of COVID. My friend Keith Granno, a former Selway Machine Tool sales rep, was practically doing cartwheels through the aisles with excitement. Keith is normally pretty excitable, but this felt different, his energy wasn’t just enthusiasm; it was grounded in the real potential he saw in Hamilton’s transformation. Over a Chicago slice, Keith shared how Phil Linscheid from Hamilton was spearheading an ambitious transformation of their machine shop into a hyperproductive, modern operation.

Keith’s enthusiasm was infectious, and when he described the huge fleet of Matsuura MAM machines Hamilton was adding, I knew this was a company worth keeping an eye on.

A North Star for Productivity

Since that lunch, Hamilton has become a beacon of innovation for machine shops across the region. Phil and his team have turned their operation into a powerhouse, blending cutting-edge technology with a relentless drive to improve. Today, Hamilton isn’t just a productive medical machine shop, they’re a model for what’s possible. Their transformation has inspired countless shops, proving that with vision and execution, there’s always room to raise the bar.

But what makes Phil’s leadership truly stand out is his philosophy: “I like having a villain to chase.” For him, it’s about always striving to overcome challenges and push boundaries. That mindset has been key to Hamilton’s evolution, enabling them to expand beyond their own medical device production and fill their surplus capacity with contract manufacturing for clients like ORI Struts.

Toolpath Joins the Journey

Fast forward to earlier this year, when Hamilton signed up as a Toolpath customer. Working with their manufacturing team has been an incredible experience for our Customer Success team, and it’s given me the chance to get to know Phil and his vision on a deeper level.

During my recent visit to Hamilton to film a customer success video, I saw firsthand how Toolpath is helping them achieve even greater efficiency. Phil summed it up perfectly: “If [our engineers are] spending hours on developing quotes, that doesn’t make us any better.” Toolpath’s automation tools are freeing up Hamilton’s engineers to focus on what they do best, refining processes and driving innovation.

Real Results with Toolpath

Here’s how Toolpath is making a difference for Hamilton:

Faster Quoting: By loading part models into Toolpath, Hamilton’s team gets immediate feedback on manufacturability and time estimates. This allows them to quickly decide whether a job makes sense and, if necessary, refine their approach. Streamlined Collaboration: Toolpath’s insights bridge the gap between design and manufacturing engineering, fostering more productive conversations and faster decision making. Great Customer Service: Hamilton’s external customers benefit, too. With Toolpath, they can provide actionable suggestions for improving part designs, reducing costs, and improving lead times.

Phil described it as a “subtle, substantial shift” in how they work, a shift where quoting no longer eats up hours of engineering time, and manufacturability feedback is immediately actionable, creating a seamless workflow from design to production. By removing the guesswork from quoting and manufacturability analysis, Toolpath has become an essential tool in their workflow.

More Than Software

What stood out to me most during my visit was Phil’s appreciation for the people behind the technology. As he put it, “I can really tell that the Toolpath team wants us to succeed, not just use the software they developed.” That’s the kind of partnership we strive for at Toolpath, one where our success is measured by the success of our customers.

Be Inspired by Hamilton

Hamilton’s story is a testament to what’s possible when vision, determination, and technology come together, fueled by a relentless drive to overcome challenges, or as Phil would say, to chase a worthy villain. They’ve set a high bar for what a modern machine shop can achieve, and it’s an honor to be part of their journey.

If you’re looking to take your shop to the next level, let Hamilton’s transformation inspire you. With the right tools and a mindset focused on improvement, there’s no limit to what you can accomplish. Reach out to our team at Toolpath to see how we can help you on your journey.